Selection of generals, and counselor targets

[KPJ]

Generals! I made a thread during 1.07b about the annoyance of new generals being generated for each retinue. Well, I'm glad they got rid of that bug! Thanks Paradox! What I'd like to know, however, is the most click-friendly way to pick generals. I feel like I must be missing something.

2 things complicate picking generals:

1- When we go to pick a general, we can't tell if they're already leading armies, which can lead to an empty flank somewhere. There is an icon for characters who are leading armies (a little sword in the top left of their portrait), but it doesn't appear when we go to pick generals.

2- Some generals prefer to stay home. I have no idea how to tell if this is going to happen or not, but it seems to be related to rank. Of course, I realize that counselors can be set to 'never lead armies', but why let me pick them to lead armies then? Also, I've seen this happen with non-counselors.

Based on these two issues I feel that I must be missing something pretty important, or we're in a transitional phase before making the system easier (i.e. a bug/WAD but not ideal)

Bonus question:
How do you target characters for counselor actions? Is it always their home county? I noticed that we can improve relations at the home county even if someone's leading troops and elsewhere. But when we send our marshals to suppress revolts/improve arrest chance, it seems to work on where they are, so we have to send the marshal there. Is there any logic or list as to which actions work where?

 

[nyah]

Generals! I made a thread during 1.07b about the annoyance of new generals being generated for each retinue. Well, I'm glad they got rid of that bug! Thanks Paradox! What I'd like to know, however, is the most click-friendly way to pick generals. I feel like I must be missing something.

2 things complicate picking generals:

1- When we go to pick a general, we can't tell if they're already leading armies, which can lead to an empty flank somewhere. There is an icon for characters who are leading armies (a little sword in the top left of their portrait), but it doesn't appear when we go to pick generals.

2- Some generals prefer to stay home. I have no idea how to tell if this is going to happen or not, but it seems to be related to rank. Of course, I realize that counselors can be set to 'never lead armies', but why let me pick them to lead armies then? Also, I've seen this happen with non-counselors.

Based on these two issues I feel that I must be missing something pretty important, or we're in a transitional phase before making the system easier (i.e. a bug/WAD but not ideal)

Bonus question:
How do you target characters for counselor actions? Is it always their home county? I noticed that we can improve relations at the home county even if someone's leading troops and elsewhere. But when we send our marshals to suppress revolts/improve arrest chance, it seems to work on where they are, so we have to send the marshal there. Is there any logic or list as to which actions work where?

I agree, it should be easier to see which generals are already in use.

On the bonus question. If you're sending your spymaster to increase your assassination chances send him to the province where they are, so if they're leading troops somewhere, send him there.

 

[shypixel]

I see the "Leading Troops" Icon up on the top left of the portrait while selecting generals...

 

[unmerged(88697)]

Generals!
1- When we go to pick a general, we can't tell if they're already leading armies . . . There is an icon for characters who are leading armies (a little sword in the top left of their portrait), but it doesn't appear when we go to pick generals.

I doubt if there will ever be a simplified way of making these assignments, it seems there is no way to do this other than to jot down all the names of Generals.

Usually I make two lists, one for commanding the center and another for the flanks. The written list is simply the general's name (or abbriv.) and warrior attribute. The attribute number (18, 21, 13, etc) vastly simplifies sorting though the dialog when selection a general.

List 1: Those commading the center that have center attributes and/or expertise as cavalary leader, rough terrain, etc.

List 2: Those leading the flanks, that is, having the cross-sword icon that states leadership qualities on the flank. Of this group I generally weed-out the craven and/or incompetent.

As generals are assigned just check-off his name on the list so he isn't re-used.

 

[KPJ]

Thanks for the advice. It's certainly something I expect Paradox to fix up. Most of the interfaces are extremely user-friendly, but the two points mentioned in this thread seem to be a bit of a puzzle.

 

[Sir Tornado]

1- When we go to pick a general, we can't tell if they're already leading armies, which can lead to an empty flank somewhere. There is an icon for characters who are leading armies (a little sword in the top left of their portrait), but it doesn't appear when we go to pick generals.

Yes, we can see the little sword on top right of their portrait when we go to pick generals... atleast I can.

It would be much better if you were allowed to set the leaders of the armies in the military screen AND assign more than one leader to 1 flank even if it has only 1 army in that flank... the second leader takes over if the first one dies.

 

[Varvs]

hey guys i noticed that if your vassal who you choose to lead your army left the same army on the very next day to lead a private army in a private war without a warning. So If your favorite buddy vassal super general is fighting own wars why the hell give me the option to appoint him when he does not take the job?

 

[DarkPhoenix]

hey guys i noticed that if your vassal who you choose to lead your army left the same army on the very next day to lead a private army in a private war without a warning. So If your favorite buddy vassal super general is fighting own wars why the hell give me the option to appoint him when he does not take the job?

Yes, this is quite annoying, which is also why it is safer to go with your own barons, mayors and bishops as generals - they can't start a war on their own.

Yes, we can see the little sword on top right of their portrait when we go to pick generals... atleast I can.

It would be much better if you were allowed to set the leaders of the armies in the military screen AND assign more than one leader to 1 flank even if it has only 1 army in that flank... the second leader takes over if the first one dies.

I have that little sword and shield icon, too, and hovering over it even tells you where this vassal is at the moment. Btw, you can add further generals to a flank: click in the army, expand the view, select retinues/levies without leaders and then choose one for them. I'm pretty sure they will take over if the current leader routs or dies.

 

[KPJ]

Yep, found the sword icon. Not sure how I made this mistake. It does make it a lot easier, so thanks for that.

Can anyone confirm on where to send your counselors?
So far I know this: (A list of actions which require a character, not province, target)

Diplomat:
Improve relations- Go to title county of character (I've seen it work in-game when the character was at work as a counselor)
Sow dissent- ??

Marshal:
Suppress rebels- Against the character's location

Spymaster:
Scheme- ??
Build spy network- Against the character's location

Imam/Bishop:
Charity: ?? I've seen this give me improved relations with my barons in the capital, but I'm not sure if I should be using it on my vassals to improve relations. Will we still get piety bonus if performing charity in non-held land?
Improve Religious Relations: ?? (I'm pretty sure this one is against the character's primary title)

 

[n000b]

Just to add, if you pick one of your vassals as general while he is fighting a war, he will immediately switch back to his own army. Same thing happends when you are the vassal, your liege will just drag you away from your own war. This pretty much make martial training useless if you are a vassal, it will only benefit your liege.

 

[Sir Tornado]

Btw, you can add further generals to a flank: click in the army, expand the view, select retinues/levies without leaders and then choose one for them. I'm pretty sure they will take over if the current leader routs or dies.

This used to be the case before 1.07. But now your vassals supply you consolidated troops. A Duke vassal giving you 6000 troops will supply you 2000 troops for each flank, and you can assign only 1 commander to each flank of that army. If a commander dies, there is no one to take up command of that flank.

I have to say, more I play, more I think the consolidated army from each direct vassal was a terrible idea...

 

[Fishy101]

Of course, I realize that counselors can be set to 'never lead armies', but why let me pick them to lead armies then?

My favorite thing to do during a crusade is to take every leader (count, baron, duke, bishop, mayor, council) and have them get the crusader trait. Its basically a free trait, you just have to be leading in a crusade for a period of time. The bonus +2 martial is nice, what's more is the bonus to opinion, especially from the church and other crusaders. So for example, a duke hates me, I send him on the crusade, now both my ruler and the duke has the crusader trait and so we both get a +30 opinion bonus towards each other. This is the one time I let my council members lead troops. It doesn't even matter that my councilor has a martial skill of 2 and will never lead an army again, that crusader trait is so worth it. And you probably won't have to worry about your guys getting excommunicated. With church view of crusader being +25 and the pope probably a crusader, all your guys will have a +55 opinion bonus with the pope.

 

[Sir Tornado]

My favorite thing to do during a crusade is to take every leader (count, baron, duke, bishop, mayor, council) and have them get the crusader trait. Its basically a free trait, you just have to be leading in a crusade for a period of time. The bonus +2 martial is nice, what's more is the bonus to opinion, especially from the church and other crusaders. So for example, a duke hates me, I send him on the crusade, now both my ruler and the duke has the crusader trait and so we both get a +30 opinion bonus towards each other. This is the one time I let my council members lead troops. It doesn't even matter that my councilor has a martial skill of 2 and will never lead an army again, that crusader trait is so worth it. And you probably won't have to worry about your guys getting excommunicated. With church view of crusader being +25 and the pope probably a crusader, all your guys will have a +55 opinion bonus with the pope.

I never let my vassals get the Crusader trait if I can help it. It makes them like each other more... I prefer my vassals don't get into a mutual love in with one another.

I let them go only if they are very powerful and I need the +30 bonus with them.

 

[unmerged(494787)]

I don't care if my vassals like each other, as long as they like me more, and the papal relations bonus helps prevent random excommunications from flying around, which saves me piety. Even if it makes it hard to plot, the relations bonus makes it an excellent chance to raise Crown Authority.

On the note of generals, I really wish levies would get auto-assigned leaders from the vassal's pool like they used to. I find that large vassals tend to get 5-10 evenly divided units when you raise their levy, so you could assign multiple leaders manually, but that's a major pain, and you probably won't have enough available leaders of decent martial to do that for multiple stacks.

 

[yezhanquan]

I never let my vassals get the Crusader trait if I can help it. It makes them like each other more... I prefer my vassals don't get into a mutual love in with one another.

I let them go only if they are very powerful and I need the +30 bonus with them.

Let the liege and his heir join them. One big happy family. Of course, if you're female, this is a very valid consideration.